Summary of Case: Accused in 2008 of sexually abusing a boy
at Our Lady of the Assumption in Carmichael CA, beginning in 1987 when the victim
was 8 years old. Parents say diocese admitted there were other victims.

Ordained: 1946Incardinated: Sacramento diocese 1946-89Died: 7/14/89

Start

Stop

Parish

Town

State

Position

Notes

1946

Bishop Robert J. Armstrong (1929-57)

1947

St. John the Baptist

Chico

CA

2/2. Pastor was Rev. Patrick J. Cronin.

In Sacramento diocese.

School had 96 boys and 100 girls.

1946

1947

Station of St. John the Baptist

Magalia

CA

In Sacramento diocese.

1946

1947

Station of St. John the Baptist

Paradise

CA

In Sacramento diocese.

1946

1947

Station of St. John the Baptist

Sterling City

CA

In Sacramento diocese.

1947

1950

St. Bernard’s

Eureka

CA

3/4. Priests were Msgr. Cornelius H. Murphy, and Revs. James
J. Corcoran, Cornelius O’Connor, and John Farrell. In 1949 John C.
O’Reilly arrived.
Murphy was a dean, consultor, treasurer of the Priests’ Aid Society,
and diocesan moderator of theological conferences.

Then in Sacramento diocese; now in Santa Rosa diocese.

School had 221 boys and 209 girls.

1947

1950

St. Joseph’s

Eureka

CA

Then in Sacramento diocese; now in Santa Rosa diocese. Mission
of St. Bernard's.

1950

Bishop Joseph T. McGucken (1957-62)

1961

Holy Cross

Tulelake

CA

1/1.

In Sacramento diocese. No school.

1950

1961

Our Lady of Good Counsel

Dorris

CA

In Sacramento diocese.

1950

1957

Station of Holy Cross

Tennant

CA

In Sacramento diocese.

1961

Bishop Alden J. Bell (1962-79)

1968

St. Patrick’s

Placerville

CA

2/2. Priests were Revs. Joseph Hanrahan and Cornelius F.
O’Connor, administrator, with Sigmund F. Lica and Edward F. Boyle
C.SS.R. for a year each. Then in 1965, O'Connor was made pastor with James
McKnight as associate.

Cornelius F. O'Connor should not be confused with Cornelius S. O'Connor. The
latter was a Sacramento priest 1928-91.

Priests in a Parish: We use the following
convention to show a priest's place among the clergy of a parish: 1/2 means
that he is the first priest listed in the Official Catholic Directory (usually
the pastor) and that there is a total of two priests at the parish. The shorthand
3/4 means that the priest is listed third on a four-priest roster. See our sample
page from the Directory.

Note: The Official Catholic Directory aims to report
the whereabouts of Catholic priests in the United States on January 1 of the
Directory's publication year. Our working assumption is that a priest
listed in the Directory for a given year was at the same assignment
for part of the previous year as well. However, Kenedy and Sons will sometimes
accept updates well into the year of publication. Diocesan clergy records are
rarely available to correct this information. The Directory is also
sometimes misleading or wrong. We have tried to create an accurate assignment
record, given the source materials and their limitations. Assignment records
are a work in progress and we are always improving the records that we post.
Please email us
with new information and corrections.

This assignment record collates O'Connor's career history as it is represented
in the Official Catholic Directory with allegations reported in the
media. We make no representation regarding the truth of the allegation we report.
We remind our readers that in the U.S. judicial system, a person is considered
innocent until proven guilty.

A Note on Nomenclature: We use the term "assignment record,"
instead of the more common "service record," because "service"
is not an appropriate word for the activities of an abusive priest. Dioceses
are often less than forthcoming about the activities of retired priests, but
when we can determine those activities, we list them in these assignment records,
particularly if they involve ministry. Retired priests remain under obedience
to their bishop, and even the activities of laicized priests should be a concern
to the diocese.